Analysts say disputes between hospitals and insurers have become more common in recent years as providers have gained more power at the bargaining table.

Consumer backlash to restrictive managed care practices and a desire by health plan enrollees to have a broad choice of providers with wide geographic presences have given some hospital systems the upper hand when bargaining for new contracts, particularly in the past two years, analysts say.

In Houston, numerous public battles have been waged between insurers and hospitals, some of which were settled by agreements and others that wind up with terminated contracts.